Chad Schofield returns to the Sydney arena at Randwick and his first job will be to qualify Wealthy Investor for the Magic Millions Classic.
The last time Chad Schofield rode for Damien Lane, he was in the early stages of his apprenticeship and knee-high to a grasshopper.
“I did give him a ride really early on, he was a four-kilo apprentice,” Lane recalled.
“I remember him nearly not being able to carry the saddle he was that small back then.”
Fast forward a decade and Schofield is now an accomplished young jockey having won four Group 1 races, including the 2013 Cox Plate on Shamus Award, and having spent close to seven years honing his skills in the competitive environment of Hong Kong.
Boxing Day at Randwick will mark his first metropolitan meeting back in Sydney since his decision to return home to Australia and the Lane-trained Wealthy Investor will open Schofield’s account in the Drinkwise Handicap (1100m).
It is a critical race for the two-year-old, who needs to finish in the top three to secure his place in the $2 million Magic Millions Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast next month.
He has an awkward draw in 15, immediately outside stablemate Veravino, and Lane is in two minds about whether to run the pair.
Veravino is not a Magic Millions horse so she is likely to be saved for a race at Kensington a week later, and Wealthy Investor could yet follow the same route.
But Lane admits he is favouring starting the youngster and hoping he gets some luck.
“It’s his last run (before the Magic Millions) so if he doesn’t earn some money in this race then he wouldn’t make the Gold Coast,” Lane said.
“I am probably leaning towards running but I will wait to make a final call.”
Wealthy Investor finished third to Soaring Ambition in the Magic Millions two-year-old race at Wyong, hitting the line strongly once he balanced up in the straight.
Lane says the colt has the physique of a horse who will get better with time and he is doing everything on raw ability.
“We had a couple of nice two-year-olds last year, Sonnet Star won the Wellington Boot and she has been a bit stiff in a couple of Listed races,” Lane said.
“She was a handy little two-year-old but he has probably gone to the next level. He is Listed placed already.
“He is untapped, so it is hard for me to get a line on how good he is, but he is going in the right direction.”
Wealthy Investor is a $6.50 chance for Sunday’s race and will be one of seven rides for Schofield, who has also picked up the mount on the Mitchell Freedman-trained Ho Ho Khan in the Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m).